Envelope



Oct. 1 1 935. sc n-z 2,016,258

ENVELOPE Filed April 17, 1953 INVENTOR ATTO RN EYJ Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE a corporation of Ohio Application April 17, 1933, Serial No. 666,469

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-68) This invention relates to envelopes and is particularly directed to relatively large envelopes of thepocket type and constructed of paper. More particularly, the type of envelope to which the present improvement is applied is closed along three edges and has a flap at its open edge and is constructed of a fairly tough grade of paper.

A decided disadvantage and defect has been present in the envelope as heretofore manufacl-o. tured, and despite the use of heavy and tough paper, in that the flap has had a tendency to become torn away from the body of the envelope due to pulling on the flap, thus detracting from the durability of the envelope and destroying its utility. It

15. is the object of the present invention to correct this defect and to provide an easily assembled, simple and efficient reinforcing device at the corners of the envelope, more particularly at those corners where the flap joins the body of the en- 20 velope, effectively preventing tearing apart of the envelope at these points and lengthening the life and service of the envelope.

In a more detailed sense, the envelope as been constructed to include double thickness for the 25 sides thereof for the purpose of strengthening the same, the flap being included as a part of an outer layer or thickness secured to the body of the envelope by suitable means such as gluing. Therefore not only does it occur that there is a tend- 30 ency to tear the flap away from the part of which it is integral but that there is a tendency to pull the entire reinforcing sheet away from the body of the envelope. Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a corner rein- 35 forcement which not only prevents tearing of the flap from the sheet of which it is an integral part but effectively secures the corners of the reinforcing sheet to the body of the envelope at those corners of the envelope where the flap joins the 40 body of the envelope, this improvement resulting in a much more durable and serviceable envelope.

The present improvement is readily applied or incorporated in the expansible type of envelope 45 wherein accordion pleated edges are used. In

that-there is a tendency to overload the expansible type of envelope, exerting undue expansive force and applying unusual loads on the flap when improperly handled, the present invention finds 50 ready use and extreme value in application to the expansible type of envelope.

Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

55 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved envelope, the reinforcing sheet being laid back with the attachment device loosened to show the structure at one corner.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22, Figure l, detailing the corner reinr forcement.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 2, further detailing the reinforcement.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44, Figure 3, showing additional details of the envelope reinforcement.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a corner of the envelope.

Referring to the drawing, the body of the envelope is indicated at it and the reinforcing sheets at l I. As stated, the disclosed embodiment of the invention is preferably formed of a tough grade of paper. The body includes three closed edges and an open edge adapted to be closed by means of a flap i2 extended from one of the reinforc 2,0

ing sheets.

The body It is fabricated of side pieces l3 and an edge piece 44. The edge piece is accordion pleated across its width along its entire length and is folded after the manner of the corners of an accordion to provide a bottom edge l5 and side edges It. The extreme side flanges ll of the pleated strip are glued to the edges I 8 of the side pieces to form the body of the envelope. The upper edges of the pleated side edges of the envelope at the open side of the envelope are reinforced by means of cloth strips 19 glued to these edges and pleated along with the paper material.

The improvements in this case, as recited, are concerned with the fastening of the flap bearing reinforcing sheet H to the body of the envelope and will be noted to be as follows:

A slit 2!) is provided in the reinforcing sheet parallel with the side edge and spaced in a slight distance, extending from the scored line 2| between the flap and main part of the reinforcing sheet H. A strip of adhesive cloth tape 22 is pasted to the inner side of the reinforcing sheet toward the inside of the slit and extends through the slit. A circular piece 23 of adhesive fabric is laid diametrically on the edge of the reinforcing sheet extending equally on either side of the line of fold between the flap and the main part of the sheet but folded over and adhesively secured to the respective sides of the sheet, thus binding and reinforcing the sheet at the line of fold.

Prior to the final gluing operation, the end 24 of the strip is extended loosely beyond the slit. When the body of the envelope and the reinforcing sheet are brought together, this strip is folded inforcing sheet fastened on the side of the enaround the edge of the envelope and is glued to the outside face 25 'of the first pleat. It will be noted that this takes place over the cloth reinforcing piece 23 secured over the edge of the reinforcing sheet. Through this means the reinforcing sheet is rigidly bound to the body of the envelope at the corner where the major part of the strain occurs.

The improved envelope herein described may be said to have laminated side walls. The cloth strip or tape 22,has its one end imbedded between the laminations of the flap carrying wall and is secured therein by glue or other means. The loose end which projects from between the laminations of the wall is turned around the end edge ofrthe envelope adjacent the line of fold of the flap thereof and is secured to the end wall of the envelope. 7 The user of the envelope, often in a hurry, may handle the envelope by the flap and be'unduly urgent in opening and closing the flap so that the greatest destruction strains are constantly occurring at the corners where the flap joins the envelope. The reinforcement herein set forth effectively resists the tendency to tear at the corners and unusual service is achieved in the inexpensive envelopes of the nature disclosed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A paper envelope, comprising, a body having accordion pleated edges and an open edge, a revelope, said sheet carrying a flap adjacent the open side of the envelope and having a slit parallel with and at the upper end of each side edge there- I of, a piece of cloth overlapped over and secured to each side edge of said reinforcing sheet at the line of fold between the flap and sheet proper, and a strip of cloth secured to the inner side of the sheet adjacent each slit and extended therethrough, said cloth strips engaged around the respective side edges of the reinforcing sheet and secured to therespective outer faces of the first accordion pleats of the adjacent edges.

2. In a paper envelope of the pocket typehaving a flap at its open edge, a reinforcing sheet glued on the side of the envelope and carrying said flap adjacent the open side of the envelope, and a strip of cloth overlapped and adhesively secured over each side edge of said reinforcing sheet at the line of fold between the flap and sheet proper. V

3. In a paper envelope of the pocket type having a closure flap; a reinforcing sheet glued on the side of the envelope. and carrying said flap as an integral part thereof, said reinforcing sheet having a slit along each side edge thereof adjacent the flap, and strips of cloth fastened to the inside of said sheet and extended through the respective slits, said strips lapped over each side edge of said reinforcing sheet and secured over the end edge of the envelope.

4. In a paper envelope, a body having accordion pleated edges and an open edge, a reinforcing sheet glued on the side of said body and carrying a nap adjacent the open edge of said body, said sheet having a slit along each side edge thereof adjacent the flap, a piece of cloth overlapped and adhesively secured over each side edge of said re-V inforcing sheet over the line of fold between the flap and sheet'proper, andia strip of cloth adhesively secured to the inner side of the sheet adjacent each slit 'and extended therethrough, said strips secured over the respective edges of the envelope. 7

5. In a paper envelope of the type having a closure flap extended from one edge, a reinforcing strip secured in overlapped position around the end edge of the envelope over the line of fold for the flap, a reinforcing strip disposed immediately adjacent to the folding line for the flap, said strip having one end embedded in the side wall of the envelope, and its other end extended to and overlapped and secured over the end edge of the envelope.

6. In an envelope constructed of paper, or the like, and having a closure 'flap extended from an edge'at the open side thereof; reinforcing strips secured around the respective end'edges of the envelope over the line of fold between the flap and the body of the envelope, reinforcing strips disposed upon the body immediately adjacent said 

